I See … Competition? July 8, 2005
Posted by Amber D. Evans in : Reflections, Chico CA , add a comment… There
is no one here to which you should compare yourself to. The only (one
and true) competitor is YOURSELF." And only yourself. No one part of
this group should (or even consider) comparing themselves to others.
My sixth sense is telling me that competition has crept in. So, I was
obliged to give my two cents worth about why we're even doing this
thing:
"After much careful thought and deliberation, I've found myself in a position to state the following:
There
is no one here to which you should compare yourself to. The only (one
and true) competitor is YOURSELF." And only yourself. No one part of
this group should (or even consider) comparing themselves to others.
Why
state this? Because I'm a true believer that only yourself is truly
capable and able to determine what is and is not possible given the
time and abilities that we all have. Some of us will be strong
swimmers, or strong riders, or strong runners, or combination thereof.
But as far as I can assess, none of us are the strongest or the weakest
at anything we do.
We're all the best at what we're doing,
simply and only because we are doing it. I think this is fundamental to
who we are as a group and as a team in working together.And if any of
you are thinking otherwise, I'd be happy to kick your ass or slap you
upside the head if you even think otherwise. I'm proud of each and
everyone of you gals involved in this activity. And you each should be
proud of yourself.
Remember, we each started somewhere, it's where you end up (the finish line) that matters in the end. 'Nuff said."
Awwww
… what an inspirational piece. Funny thing is, I really did mean
everything I said in it. Seven pints of Michelob Ultra beer will do
that to a person.
Hey! Wasn't this <em>my</em> triathlon?
Posted by Amber D. Evans in : Reflections, Chico CA , add a commentAfter preliminary discussions with some of the tri-athlon-fecta
members, I was able to invite Laura, Robyn, and Sam. I wanted to invite
more, but knew I was pushing my luck as is. Talk about feeling capped.
After preliminary discussions with some of the tri-athlon-fecta
members, I was able to invite Laura, Robyn, and Sam. I wanted to invite
more, but knew I was pushing my luck as is. Talk about feeling capped.
Am
I wrong to think, "It's my triathlon, dammit!"? I mean, I know I don't
own it, but I'm the one who got this thing started. Although credit
where credit is due: Jenn started the blog idea and Berta set the site
color and links. And they blog profusely on it. But, why is everyone so
threatened by the idea of adding others? Is our dynamic that fragile?
Hell,
who gives a flying frick. It's not that important anyway. I'm joining a
team, not a frickin' sorority. Let's get on with it.
Acknowledgements
Posted by Amber D. Evans in : Reflections, Chico CA , add a commentTo You: Why and how you mean so much to me!
To my parents: DI AND I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I doubt
we'd be doing this if it wasn't for your lifelong morals, ideals, and
support in everything we do. It is because of you both I've always had
the courage to try and do the new things that make my life worthwhile
and exciting.
To my "better half": I love you.
And you love me. And I really couldn't ask for more support than that.
Thanks for not making fun of me (other than for blogging) or for ever
saying I'm fat. In fact, thank you for always telling me you love me
and that I'm the most beautiful woman in the world. I may shrug it off,
but for a few minutes every time I hear you say it, I'm feeling like
the queen of the world.
To my sister: Thanks
for trying to do this thing without me! 
Actually, thanks for showing
me that it is possible for us to eat, feel great, AND look great. You
are (and have been) my inspiration to continually push my physical
limits. You're a gem both in the family and as a friend.
To my triathlon-in-training-friends:
Thanks for finally giving in to my constant pestering to do something
active besides 12 oz. curls at the bar. Ha, ha, just kidding! Actually,
thank you for your constantly humorous support and laughable foibles.
You remind me to remain humble and with humility throughout all of
this. And it would never be as much fun without you. Never have I ever
hurt as much from laughing as I have from lifting. I couldn't be any
happier.
To all my other friends: Thanks for
rolling your eyes at me, feeding me fried foods, and making me coffee
drinks laced in carmel, chocolate, and whipped cream. Thanks for
keeping me "real" as I'm going through this. And especially thank you
for always being there for me when I'm whiny, cranky, achy, sore,
tired, boring, silly, annoying, suddenly absent/missing, or like my
otherwise normal self (whatever that may be).
To my dog: Ruff, ruff, growl. Bark, bark, woof, growl. (singing) "Cal-lee-pal, the greatest dog in the world." (end singing)
To Bidwell Park, Chico, CA:
Where else is there a better place to practice "Bricks" than One-Mile?
Where else is there fabulous biking paths and differing terrain? Thanks
for being so bike friendly, easily accessible, and free. You may be a
cheap date, but you're a date I'd never pass up.
And thanks to myself!
For without me, I simply *couldn't* have done this, for I would not
have existed. (Yeah! Ha, ha!) Truly though, I do thank some part of
myself for actually filling out the registration and billing
information so that I actually have to do all this AND recruit others
to join me on this journey. So stoked … so stoked!